Mo Xiu Yao nodded with satisfaction and smiled, “Thank you. Since you’re all so generous, this prince will gladly accept.”

“Mo Xiu Yao!” Mo Jing Li couldn’t help but roar in anger. By now, how could he not understand that he had been completely played by Mo Xiu Yao, even being used as a betting piece with Xi Ling, Northern Rong, and Nanzhao? Such humiliation nearly drove Mo Jing Li to lose his rationality.

Beside him, Mo Jing Yu, who had fallen to the ground, was deathly pale with scattered eyes. It was over…

Mo Xiu Yao said leisurely, “Jing Li, this prince told you more than ten years ago to avoid doing things that require using your brain – it doesn’t suit you. With your personality, once you gained the upper hand, how could you strike cleanly without first humiliating this prince? If this prince were you, this prince wouldn’t even have entered this hall, but rather would have launched thousands of arrows from outside.”

“You think I only have these cards to play?” Mo Jing Li sneered. Though extremely angry, he was no longer a teenager and quickly controlled his rage.

Mo Xiu Yao raised an eyebrow and said, “What else do you want to say? Ah, right, you have the Nanzhao young prince in your hands, don’t you?” Mo Jing Li sneered silently, but Mo Xiu Yao didn’t mind, saying calmly, “Even if he’s in your hands, so what? That child is in Li City now, isn’t he? Whose house are you hiding him in? This prince doesn’t believe you have many strongholds in Li City. You all… who can tell this prince where Mo Jing Li has hidden the Nanzhao young prince?”  Mo Xiu Yao looked down at everyone below.

After a long silence with no one speaking, Mo Xiu Yao lowered his eyes and said, “No one willing to speak? I wonder if your family members would be willing to talk?” Everyone’s expressions changed drastically. Most of them were heads or important figures of prestigious families – their clans weren’t like ordinary families with just a few or a dozen members. Once implicated, it would affect hundreds of people. The threat of clan extermination made everyone shudder.

Mo Jing Li sneered, “You think they know anything?”

Mo Xiu Yao leaned back in his chair leisurely, playing with Ye Li’s delicate hand while smiling, “Jing Li, you’ve been hurt by these people before, yet you still don’t learn. Do you think… just because you have leverage over them, they’ll obediently follow your orders? You think when they help you with tasks, they won’t keep something for themselves?”

Mo Jing Li’s expression froze as he suddenly swept his gaze over the people on the ground. Many uncomfortably avoided his gaze, making his heart sink.

From above, Mo Xiu Yao clapped his hands and said, “Now, who will tell this prince the whereabouts of the Nanzhao young prince?”

The great hall remained silent for a while until finally, someone tremblingly crawled up, “Your Highness… please spare me. This humble servant… will speak… Ah?!” Before he could finish, Mo Jing Li kicked him away. The speaker was just a scholar without any martial arts ability, and while Mo Jing Li wasn’t a supreme expert, his martial arts weren’t weak. Kicking him was like child’s play – one kick sent the man flying, crashing into a nearby pillar and spitting blood. Mo Jing Li sneered, “Fool! You think Mo Xiu Yao will spare you just because you talk?!”

Mo Xiu Yao shrugged, showing rare sincerity, “This prince can make your death more comfortable.” In other words, they would die whether they spoke or not – it was just a matter of how they died.

Thus, those who had been stirring with the urge to speak fell silent again.

Mo Xiu Yao wasn’t in a hurry. He slowly stood up and walked down from the platform. His unhurried steps somehow created indescribable pressure, causing even the aggressive Mo Jing Li to unconsciously step back twice. When he realized what he had done, Mo Jing Li’s face alternated between green and purple.

“Minister Zhao?” Mo Xiu Yao walked up to Zhao Zhe Fang, smiling.

“Your… Your Highness?” Zhao Zhe Fang replied with a deathly pale face, trembling.

“Where is the Nanzhao young prince?” Mo Xiu Yao asked. Zhao Zhe Fang shook his head, “This old servant… doesn’t know.”

“Don’t know?” Mo Xiu Yao raised an eyebrow in displeasure, “Then what do you know?” Zhao Zhe Fang’s eyes wandered, not daring to meet Mo Xiu Yao’s gaze even for a moment, only pleading desperately, “This old servant… knows nothing, please spare my life! I was momentarily confused, I’ll never dare again, never dare again.” Mo Xiu Yao looked down at him, letting out a long sigh, and said flatly, “The entire Zhao family, throw them in prison. Execute them on an appointed day.” After speaking, Mo Xiu Yao no longer looked at Zhao Zhe Fang, as if he had completely lost interest.

Everyone lying on the ground was stunned, clearly not expecting Prince Ding’s interrogation to be so clean and decisive. Or rather, Prince Ding simply didn’t care about the outcome.

“No! Your Highness, this old servant knows his wrong, please spare my life…” Zhao Zhe Fang cried out, and seeing he couldn’t get even a glance from Mo Xiu Yao, he turned his gaze to Ye Li sitting on the platform, “Princess Consort, this old servant was wrong. Please spare this old servant and his whole family. They are all innocent, please Princess Consort, spare our lives!” Ye Li sighed slightly, turning to look at Master Qing Yun with a faint smile, “Grandfather, it’s too chaotic here. Let Fifth Brother accompany you back to rest?”

Master Qing Yun was elderly and didn’t want to see too much bloodshed. But he also knew that today’s situation wouldn’t be easily resolved. He let out a long sigh and nodded, “Qing Yan, come with me.”

Young Master Xu, who had been watching the show with wide eyes, looked at Ye Li pitifully, but grandfather’s orders couldn’t be disobeyed, so he had to get up and support Master Qing Yun as they left. Only after Master Qing Yun’s figure disappeared behind the hall did Ye Li turn back to look at Zhao Zhe Fang, who was still desperately pleading, and asked calmly, “Minister Zhao says your family is innocent. Do you know how many people would have died if your plot had succeeded today? Did Minister Zhao think even for a moment about their innocence when doing these things? I’m afraid you thought more about the benefits you’d receive after succeeding?”

Zhao Zhe Fang was speechless. Ye Li took out a thin piece of paper from her sleeve and smiled faintly, “This princess consort has something here, Minister Zhao might want to take a look.” A guard near Ye Li stepped forward to take the paper, but Ye Li waved him off, stood up, and walked down the platform steps to personally hand the paper to Zhao Zhe Fang.

With just one look, Zhao Zhe Fang began trembling uncontrollably. What Ye Li had given him was just a thin piece of paper, but he recognized it as torn from a book hidden in the secret compartment of his study. And what was recorded there were things he could never let others know about.

If the matters on this paper were made public, even if Prince Ding spared his life, he wouldn’t survive, “I… I’ll speak. The young… young heir was captured. He’s hidden… hidden in my villa outside the city. As for the Nanzhao young prince… this old servant truly doesn’t know his whereabouts…”

This statement shocked everyone in the hall. Although the constant absence of Prince Ding’s young heir had already aroused many suspicions, no one had thought he had been captured by Mo Jing Li.

Hearing Zhao Zhe Fang’s words, Mo Jing Li wasn’t angry, but instead burst into laughter, “Zhao Zhe Fang, you think Mo Yu Chen is still in your villa? You think I would trust you that much?” Zhao Zhe Fang remained silent, knowing that the suspicious Mo Jing Li might have secretly had people move Mo Xiao Bao after he transferred him.

“Well? Mo Xiu Yao, who won this round, you or Me?” Mo Jing Li sneered, looking at Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li.

Mo Xiu Yao held Ye Li’s hand, maintaining his composure as he calmly looked at Mo Jing Li. Mo Jing Li also knew he wouldn’t gain any advantage here today, and glared hatefully at Mo Xiu Yao, “Get out of the way, let Me leave. Otherwise… prepare to collect your son’s corpse?”

Mo Xiu Yao lowered his eyes and said calmly, “This prince had someone deliver a message to you earlier. It seems you didn’t receive it?”

Mo Jing Li froze, finally remembering what Mo Xiu Yao meant. He sneered, “If I can’t even save Myself, why should I care about him?” Mo Xiu Yao frowned slightly, finally nodding, “Very well, this prince said before… the longer you live, the more suffering you’ll experience. Since you don’t believe it, then leave. This prince guarantees that within a quarter hour of you leaving Prince Ding’s manor, no one will move against you.”

Mo Jing Li watched Mo Xiu Yao warily, clearly not believing his promise. Mo Xiu Yao didn’t mind, leading Ye Li back up to the platform.

“You aren’t afraid I’ll kill your son?” Mo Jing Li asked. He simply didn’t believe Mo Xiu Yao would let him leave so easily. Mo Xiu Yao raised an eyebrow and said, “You can try.”

“You think I won’t dare?!” Mo Jing Li said through gritted teeth. Mo Xiu Yao remained composed, “This prince said, you can try.” Whether you can kill him or not.

Mo Jing Li hesitated for a moment, then finally abandoned his poisoned subordinates and followers, turning to rush out. Mo Xiu Yao was indifferent to his departure. With a wave of his hand, people immediately came forward to clean the hall, bringing fresh fruits, snacks, and wine. Those black-clad men who came with Mo Jing Li and those who had betrayed Prince Ding’s manor were naturally carried out together. In less than half a quarter hour, the great hall had returned to its previous state, as if nothing had happened.

“A joke with everyone present, I apologize for frightening you all. This prince will punish himself with a cup of wine to make amends to the honored guests.” In the hall, Mo Xiu Yao raised his wine cup and smiled at the crowd below. The guests looking at the snow-white-haired man in white robes above felt a chill breeze blow over their heads. Confusedly, they also rose to drink with Mo Xiu Yao.

Watching Mo Xiu Yao chat and laugh casually with everyone, even Princess Consort sitting beside Prince Ding with a faint smile, seemingly completely unaffected by the news of the young heir’s capture, made everyone doubt the truth of the news about the young heir’s capture. But if this was false, why would Prince Ding let Mo Jing Li go at this time?

“Your Highness, what do you think… Prince Ding intends to do?” an official behind Lei Teng Feng glanced at the lonely young emperor Mo Sui Yun sitting opposite, asking in a low voice.

Lei Teng Feng smiled faintly and said, “Cleanup, establish authority, and incidentally… play around with Mo Jing Li. It has nothing to do with us, no need to care.” Xi Ling’s current situation didn’t need more calculations and risks, they only needed stability. As long as they could maintain the current situation and preserve Xi Ling’s strength, nothing else mattered.

“Play… play with Mo Jing Li?” the official stammered, clearly unable to accept Lei Teng Feng’s conclusion. Having such an incident occur when envoys from various nations came to offer congratulations, it seemed like a loss of face for Prince Ding’s manor no matter how you looked at it. Would anyone treat such a matter as play?

Lei Teng Feng sighed, saying somewhat helplessly, “It’s precisely because Mo Xiu Yao truly treats this matter as entertainment that it’s… more terrifying.” To treat such an important occasion and matter as entertainment, one must either be incompetent or simply not view enemies as threats at all. And Mo Xiu Yao was the latter.

The official understood Lei Teng Feng’s meaning and couldn’t help but draw in a sharp breath, looking reverently at Mo Xiu Yao on the platform, “He… Prince Ding is that certain nothing will go wrong?” Among those attending tonight’s banquet, harming any one of them would be no small matter, let alone Prince Ding’s manor’s young heir.

Lei Teng Feng shook his head, he had never felt he understood Mo Xiu Yao, and perhaps never would.

Above, Xu Qing Chen glanced at Mo Xiu Yao and said quietly, “Aren’t you going to check?” Mo Xiu Yao smiled, “No need to hurry, let him run around a bit.” Treating Mo Jing Li like a puppy being taken for a walk.

“Don’t play too much,” Xu Qing Chen calmly reminded him. Although Little Treasure was clever and had people secretly protecting him, he was still a child after all. If Mo Jing Li became desperate and did something to harm Little Treasure, it would be a loss not worth the gain.

Mo Xiu Yao helplessly pulled Ye Li up and smiled, “Alright then, let’s go take a look. I’ll trouble Brother Qing Chen here.”

Seeing Mo Xiu Yao stand up, the still-discussing crowd below paused again, hearing Mo Xiu Yao smile and say, “Everyone, this prince and the princess consort have matters to attend to, so we’ll take our leave first. Young Master Qing Chen will keep you company afterward, please enjoy yourselves.” Mo Xiu Yao spoke very politely, and his meaning was also very subtle. But it didn’t prevent everyone from understanding: This prince is going to deal with Mo Jing Li, those who don’t want to die should stay here obediently.

Watching the prince leave leisurely with his princess consort, everyone turned their gaze to Young Master Qing Chen. Young Master Qing Chen smiled faintly, appearing elegant and otherworldly, “Please make yourselves comfortable, everyone. Let me first toast to you all. Please.”

“Young Master Qing Chen, please.”

In Li City, this night was equally lively. For the first birthday celebration of Prince Ding’s manor’s two young heirs and little princess, all the common people joined in the festivities. Although it was late, Li City’s main streets were still crowded like a festival. Many citizens were performing various rituals to pray for blessings for the young heirs and little princesses. From this alone, one could see Prince Ding’s manor’s status and reputation in the hearts of Li City and even the entire Northwest’s people.

Mo Jing Li quickly darted through the dark alleys of Li City. The originally magnificent dragon robes had been discarded, leaving only dark inner garments. If the Mo Jing Li at the banquet had looked like a triumphant emperor, the current Mo Jing Li was like a desperate stray dog. Mo Xiu Yao had kept his promise, with no interference for some distance after leaving Prince Ding’s manor, but this couldn’t put Mo Jing Li at ease. He always felt countless Mo family guards and Qilin was secretly following him, ready to catch him off guard at any moment.

Fortunately, it was May, so wearing only inner garments wasn’t cold at all. Mo Jing Li walked through Li City’s darkest alleys, avoiding attention. After winding through alley after alley for nearly half an hour, until Mo Jing Li believed he had shaken off Prince Ding’s manor’s followers, he finally relaxed and used his lightness skill to head in another direction.

In a hidden secret chamber, two identical children sat on a simple bed, holding a sleeping infant in swaddling clothes. Little Treasure poked his head out to look at the baby in Qin Lie’s arms, couldn’t help but reach out to poke its little face, and said, “It’s really ugly.”

Qin Lie said flatly, “You looked like this when you were small too.”

Little Treasure didn’t believe it, “That’s impossible. Lin’er and Xin’er were so pretty when they were small.” Qin Lie said, “That only proves the second young master and little princess look better than you.” Little Treasure snorted lightly, turning his face away proudly, “You don’t need to be jealous of this heir’s extraordinary handsomeness, don’t you look the same as this heir now?” Qin Lie looked at the secret chamber’s ceiling and rolled his eyes.

Little Treasure looked outside, frowning, “Mo Jing Li will be back soon, let’s quickly take this little one and go.” Someone’s biggest mistake was not knowing to have three rabbit holes, putting all his cards in one place, so Little Treasure brought people to follow Qin Lie, and they happened to find the missing Nanzhao young prince.

Away from Princess An Xi, the young prince had indeed suffered quite a bit. Mo Jing Li naturally wouldn’t care for children, nor would he be particularly kind to others’ children. He only maintained them at a level where they wouldn’t starve to death. When Little Treasure found them, Qin Lie was frantically trying to comfort the child. Though Qin Lie had received tracking training from Prince Ding’s manor since childhood, he was far worse at comforting children than Little Treasure, who at least had two younger siblings to practice with.

Successfully soothing the young prince whose crying voice had become hoarse, Little Treasure finally discussed retreat plans with Qin Lie.

Qin Lie said flatly, “Mo Jing Li’s people are all around outside this courtyard. Being able to get in doesn’t mean you can get out. Especially carrying a child.” A six-month-old infant doesn’t understand anything, and once startled awake would certainly cry non-stop. Moreover… this child was too young and fragile. Qin Lie didn’t dare risk carrying him.

Little Treasure lowered his head somewhat dejectedly, “I bet Father I could do it without using the guards or Qilin.”

Qin Lie resisted the urge to roll his eyes, “You’d make such an important matter into a bet?” Little Treasure fidgeted guiltily with his fingers, “Important matters are exactly what we can bet on.” Father wouldn’t bother betting with him on trivial matters.

“What did you bet?”

“If I win, I won’t have to be confined.” So that’s why the young heir had gone to such lengths, even using himself as bait to track Mo Jing Li’s whereabouts while stubbornly refusing to mobilize the guards following behind to help. Confinement was just too terrible, too cruel, too unreasonable.

“I knew it would be like this. What do you want to do now? May I ask, young heir, why do you think the two of us can kill Mo Jing Li?” Qin Lie asked coolly. Little Treasure hesitated, “Poison?”

“Do you have any?” Qin Lie asked.

“I have poison that causes diarrhea,” Little Treasure said. Master Shen wouldn’t give him lethal poisons.

Qin Lie nodded seriously and said, “You can pray he dies from diarrhea.”

Little Treasure could only roll his eyes – by the time Mo Jing Li died from diarrhea, it would be too late.